Till August 31, 2014, British Airways has temporarily suspended its flights to Sierra Leone and Liberia out of concern over the recent Ebola outbreak.
The disease which has spread through Sierra Leone, Liberia, Central Africa Republic and Nigeria has killed over 800 people.
The airlines’ decision will be reviewed after an assessment of the situation.
British Airways joins three other airlines, Arik Air, Emirates and Asky who have halted their operations to these Ebola-hit countries to avoid the spread of the disease and ensure the safety of their passengers.
A statement from British Airways sent to travel companies said: “British Airways services from London Heathrow to Freetown and Monrovia will be temporarily suspended from tomorrow, 6 August until 31 August 2014, due to the deteriorating public health situation in both countries.”
Meanwhile, the growing threat of the deadly Ebola disease has raised concerns about safety of airlines plying routes to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.
Questions have been raised about flights from these regions into Ghana by Delta Airlines and Kenya Airways.
In a statement from US based Delta Airlines says they are confident they have the system in place to monitor and respond effectively to any case of the Ebola virus
“As a routine matter for operating a global airline, Delta has infrastructure and processes in place to monitor and quickly respond to potentially contagious diseases around the world, including regular communication with global health organizations and access in the air and on the ground to professional medical advisors.”
“Delta is closely monitoring conditions at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia, Liberia to ensure safe and secure operation for customers and employees,” it added.
Business World (with notes from citifmonline)